Hydraulic conveying system for use in mines



May 30, 1933. J. BROWN HYDRAULIC CONVEYING SYSTEM FOR USE IN MINES Filed July 18. 1950 patented May 30, 1933 UNITED srarss Joni-I ,Bnown, or 30111130, nsniao, BRITISH. INDIA HYDnAnmc oonvnrzias s'rsrnia tonnes in Mines Application filed m 18, mo, Serial is. 468,959, and in. British India April 10, 1930.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling materials such as coal, light ores or the like.

It is more particularly devised for the transport of coal in coal mines, but is not necessarily restricted to use in mines, nor to use in transporting coal alone, as it will be obvious that the principles involved are applicable in other situations and to other materials where the conditions are favourable and where the grades are suitable and plenty of water is available.

Broadly speaking the invention consists in providing troughs laid ata proper inclination and in washing the coal or other materialdown these troughs.

The invention has mainly been developed for the purpose of transporting coal from the working faces in coal mines theloading positions where the said coal is loaded into tubs or skips to be hauled to the surface. The invention is only applicable in situations where suitable gradients are available and where water is also available.

In many coal mines the coal seams are on the dip or are inclined and there is often, particularly in this country, too much, rather than too little, water available in mines.

In coal mines the problem of handling the coal is a very important one. .The coal is obtained fromgalleries or working faces which may be a very considerable distance from the main inclines or he shaft at which the coal is to be loaded to be hauled to the surface.

According to this invention any suitable device for automatically turning on or supplying water in intermittent flushes maybe used. According to one specific embodiment the intermittent flushing device comprises a pivoted vessel having two compar ments adapted to take up one or other of two fixed positions, in either" of which, when empty, it is in stable equilibrium, a pipe being adapted to supply water to the device centrally over the pivotal point to fill the upper one of the said two compartments, the balance being such that when the said compartment is full it will cause the device to overbalance and-to move from its first said fixed position to the other said fixed-position, and in moving will discharge the contentsof the said filled-compartment into the trough, the said last filled compartment then becoming the lower one and-the other compartment being the higher one which will be filled in turn by the continuously running supply from the said pipe to operate the vessel in thereverse direction in a similar manner, andsoon. r

In sucha plantlayout the cooks or valves for controlling the supply of water to the coal conveying troughs may be situated at, orv are controlled "by means or signals'from, the point at which the tubs are loaded, so that the delivery of coal thereto may be regulated. 1

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in Which:' r

Fig. 1 is a seotionof a convenient form of trough. r I

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a ,joint between two lengths of trough. I

Fig. 3 shows'a clip which may be used to keep two lengths together.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the system of transporting as applied to a coal mine.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a device which can be used for giving flushes of water down the trough. I r

Fig. 6 is a diagram-representing a plan of part of a coal mine to which the system is applied, and 85 Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.=

The trough 1 is made of steel plates of any suitable gauge and in any. lengths-con= venient for manufacture and handling. For example the trough might be 2e'inches wide and 18 inches deep and in lengths of about 12 feet each. I

In Fig. 2 it is shown how the lower end of the-upper trough 1 is placed inside the 95 upperend' of the'next trough 1a below'it, and the two ends are clipped together by spring clips 5 shown in Figure 3' to provide an overlap 4.). 3

On the side of the troughs towards the working face of the coal seam the trough may have a loading plate 2 placed alonga line of tubs is ready for loading on a track to the dip of the seam.

Referring now to Fig. 4 the length A B of the trough 1 is understood to be approxi mately parallel to the general line of the working face. This length of trough may slope downwards towards B at any suitable slope within limits. The slope along this length may be for example about 1 in 12 to 1 in 6.

From point B. to point C the trough is at a steeper slope. It will be assumed that this length B to C is in a gallery. The slope in this length may perhaps be from 1 in 6 to 1 in 3. With such steeper slopes the coal passing down the trough would travel too fast if the supply of water needed to shift the coal along the length A B still were flowing. To regulate the speed of travel of the coal down the length -B C the trough at 6 is perforated so that part of the water drains out into the depression or re ceptacle 7. The excess water drained out at 6 may'flow down a subsidiary channel alongside the trough or in a pipe such as 8.

From G to D the slope of the trough is indicated as flattening considerably. At this lesser slope the coal cannot be moved quick enough by the reduced flow of water which shifts it down the steeper slope B to C. Hence more water is needed at C. Thisextrasupply may be given by turning the pipe 8 over the top of the trough again at 9 and discharging the excess water extracted at 6 into the trough again at 10. Further water might be supplied at the point 10 by a pipe and valve (not shown).

The water supply in any case will be regulated in different lengths of the trough so that as the slope increases the water supply is decreased, and vice versa.

At the point D it is assumed that the loading position is being approached. The trough is accordingly provided at 11 with perforations at the sides and bottom so as to let out all the water, or practically all of it. This water is caught at 12 and passes a through the pipe or channel 13 into a water standage or onto settling beds at 14. .If there is anyquantity of dust slack or the like in the coal it will be washed down into 14 and can be recovered therefrom later.

The coal practically free from water must still slide down the trough. For this pure pose the length of trough 15 is given a steeper gradeto overcome the frictional resistance to sliding. At E, the loading-position, the trough is converted into a tube or pipe at 16. The end of the pipe may be curved down as indicated at 17 to discharge the coal practically vertically into the tub 18.

A line of tubs 18, will be provided on a suitably graded track 21 so that the tubs may be shunted one after the other under the discharging mouth 17 of the pipe. This can be done so quickly that little if any coal falls between the tubs.

The water collecting in the settling tanks 14 may be pumped out by a pump 19. This pump discharges through the pipe line 22. A cock may be provided at 20 near the loading station so that the person in charge of the loading can stop the pump and turn off the supply of water at a convenient interval before the loading is to cease.

The pipe line 22 (and there may of course be several branches to different working faces in'the mine) takes water to the cook or valve 23 at the upper end of the long wall coal face AB and discharges at 24 into the top sections of the trough 1.

It will of course be understood that the pipe lines and the pumping plant may be arranged in any manner convenient for the particular mine or situation. For example, if considered better the pump 19, or other suitably placed pump,'may pump up water to a tank or reservoir above the surface of the ground or in any convenient situation to have suflicient head to command all the working faces. From such tank or reservoir (25 in Fig. 6) the water may be led to the working faces in separate pipes.

In such a case the cock 23 will only be turned on at any particular working face when the instructions are received that a series of tubs are in position for loading. For instance, the person in charge of the loading at E- may be in telephone or hell communication with the people at A and may signal when loading should be started.

Referring now to Fig. 5 a diagram is shown illustrating one manner in which an intermittent water supply to the troughs 1 may be effected. In this case a vessel 26 having two compartments 27 and 28 is pivoted at 29 so as to swing between two stable positions, one stable position, when the vessel is empty, is shown in Fig. 5 with the vessel resting against the stop 30. The other stable position, when empty, is when the vessel has rotated anti-clockwise about its 3:7

pivot 29 to rest against the other stop 31.

The balance of the vessel 26 is such that when the upper of the two compartments (27 in the figure) is filled with water the vessel will rock (to the left inthis case) and partments 27 28 the pipe line 22 is provided 339 most and willfill automatically in itsturn.

to cause thevessel to swing backwhen it is full to dischargeits contentsin turn. The vessel26 may-in fact go on dischargingat desired time interval the contents of; the compartments. a V VYhilst the cook 32 is discharging to give these intermittent flushes to the trough the cock 23 may be so set that a continuousdischarge is taking place at 24:. The quantity of water discharged as a continuousdis charge and that discharged as an intermittent flushing may be regulated with great nicety and be under complete control.

Referring now to Fig. 6 which shows the lay-out for a mine in a diagrammatic manner. The dip of the seam is indicated by the arrow 35. Let us assume for the moment that this dip is steeper than is required for the purpose of conveying coal to the dip along troughs. The solid unworked coal is indicated by the letters C, C and the worked out areas or goafs by the letters D D. If the working faces were laid out parallel to the strike of the seam, that is at right angles to the arrow 35, they would be level. It is however desired that the working faces shall be on a small slope of say 1 in 8.

The working faces therefore are laid out in sections to be at an angle to the dip, the angle being selected with relation to the dip of the seam so that the working face is at a convenient slope. It will be seen that this means that the working faces, which will be worked preferably on the long wall system are laid out at angles to each other if the mine as a whole is to be worked out regu larly from the dip to the rise.

The troughs 1, 1 are laid parallel to the working faces and are kept as close as is convenient to the faces to allow coal as it is cut to be collected ready for shovelling down into the troughs with the least possible extra work.

It will be understood that the working face need not be a continuous slope as indicated at 36 but may be in steps or benches as indicated at 36a.

t convenient distances along the working faces, preferably at points such as 37 the troughs are turned down the slope through the goaf G. For this purpose convenient roadways or gate roads may be left through the'goafh Theseroadways may run straight down the dip. if the slope is not too steep. If however the slope is too steep they are formedat.v anangleto the dipso as to moderatethe steepness of the slope of the passage. Preferably the slope should not exceed 1 in 3 otherwise the coal may get outof control. a

Referring to Fig. 6 it will be seen that two lines of trough from working faces 36 and 36a;.meet opposite-to the corner 37,

Thesetwo then. proceedas one down the slope. lit the point .37 some of the water will be: discharged out of the troughs in order-'to-check the rate of travel of the coal down the steeper slope in the gallery 38.

.To-the dip there is the haulageroad 39 oniwhich the tubs 18,- 18 stand. -These tubs may-be placed F011. a-slight grade as indi-:

cated-bythe slopingline 40 going partly up the slopeso that it'will be easy to'handshunt'the tubs'past the loading point 17.- i

-The trough may, as 'already explained, be drained. of water before discharging its coal into the tubs. slack may collectin; thestandagelt- Water ispumped .from the standage using pump: 19 a'ndzthis water may go. up-the 1I121in:l1alll' age 41 through pipei22 to-the tankq25 which commandsall theworking faces.

s From tank 25 pipe lines ply. the working-faces.

,In working, the coal is accumulated in apile. 3 onthe upper side of-ithe trough and it WllltllQIl need theminimum of time and' labour when the water is turned ion to shovel coal into the "trough at a rate sufiic1int:.-to load 11a. tub every minute or the 1 G, .1 I. i i

' ,The. trOughs 'Can be taken around quite sharp. curves,- for example like that; indi catedat 37 between the working face 36a and thereturn down the passage 38. 5 a

The manner of conveying' is applicable in coal mines to longwall faces, their gate roadsP, and to" galleries where the alignmentof'these' roads issuch asto permit of certain gradients-these latter'being approximately between 4% degrees and 19 degrees in favour: of the coal to be'conve'yed.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be per- The water and coal dust or formed, I declare that what I claim is:-"

1." A plant for transporting-"coal, =ore or thelike, comprising aplurality of inclinedtroughs, each having its lower end within the upper end of the succeeding trough, and some of said troughs which are laid on' a: comparatively steep angle of inclination, be-' ing provided with perforations atltheir upper ends for the purpose of removing fluid therefrom, a fluid receiving receptacle beneath the'perforations in the troughs hav-' ing sameya pipe leading fromeachrecep tacle, having an end thereon adapted to deliver the removed fluid into the uppermost end of a succeeding trough which is placed at a comparatively flatangle of inclination, for the purpose of delivering an increased supply of fluid to the latter.

2. In a plant for transporting coal, ore or the like, a connected seriesv of troughs laid at varying angles of inclination, each having its lower endwithi-n the upper end of a, succeeding trough for guiding fluid from one trough to the next one, some of the said troughs. which are laid atv a steep angle of inclination having perforations in their upper ends, collecting and conveying means for fluid adapted to convey the fluid leakage from the perforations to. the upper ends of the trou hs. of comparatively smaller inclination, a delivery trough having an angle of inclination greaterthan the angle of sliding friction of the coal, connected to. the end of the series of troughs, provided with perforations at its upper end adapted to, completely remove the fluid coal carrying medium from said delivery trough, a set. tling basin for separating finely divided coal fromthe coal carrying fluid, means beneath the apertures in the delivery trough for conveying the removedfluid and coal slack to the settling basin, and means for returning the fluid from said basinto the upper end of the trough series for subsequent use in the coal carrying system. 1 s v 3 In a plant, for hydraulically transporting coal, a series of connected metal troughs laid at varying angles of inclina-.. tion, some of said troughs. which are. placed at a comparatively steep. angle of inclination, having a number of apertures formed in the upper ends of same, for Withdrawing fluid therefrom, means for collecting-and conveying the withdrawn fluid to'the upper ends of succeeding troughs which are laidat a flat angle. of inclination, a delivery trough laid at an angle of inclination greater than the angle of, sliding friction of the coal, having perforations thereinat; its upper end suflicient to completely remove.

the. coal-bearing fluid from saiddelivery pipe, and automatic means fonsupplying a. sudden periodic flushing supply of fluid; to

the series of troughs, for the purpose of;v

overcoming any stoppages; in flow in the trough system.

4. In a plant for.hydraulicallytransporting coal, a series of connected metal troughs.

laid at varying angles of inclination, some. of said troughs which are; placed at a; com paratively steep angle of, 111cl1nat1on,,7hav1ng a number of apertures formed in the upper ends of same forwithdrawing fluidtherefrom, means for collecting and conveying:

the withdrawn fluid to the upper ends of succeeding troughs which are laid; at. aflatf angle of inclination, a delivery trough laid at an angle of inclination greater than the angle of sliding frictionof the coal, having perforations therein at its upper end adapted to completely remove the coalbearing fluid from said delivery pipe, a settlingbasin for receiving the coal and slack bearing fluid, means for conveying same from theperforations in the delivery pipe to the settling basin, and automatically operated means for supplying a sudden flushing supply-of'fluid to the trough series, for the purpose of overcoming any stoppages in flow in the coal conveying system.

5-. A plant fortransporting coal comprising a trough having varying angles of inclination, said trough being provided with drain openings at certain points of its change of inclination, and means to collect fluid; discharged f'rom the drain openings and to transfer the fluid to another pointof changeofi angularity,

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature this 5th-day of June, 1930.

- JOHN BROWN. 

